Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Beautiful!

No, that was too small a word to describe the woman he was looking-no, staring at. She looked everything elegant in the black mermaid gown she wore, completely different from the different bright colors he'd seen the women wearing, it was mind blowing how it hugged her figure but it was modest and hid her curves, how a person could pull that off was beyond him.

The way she smiled at Layla made his chest clench, if only he could cause that smile, or at least for it be directed at him.

She pulled out a seat for Layla and he could see his cousin throw her head back and laughed.

"Hamma, I've been talking to you" Aneesah nudged him making him groan internally.

"What?" he was clearly annoyed, he closed his eyes for a brief moment, he didn't know why he snapped like that.

"Sorry, what did you say?" he said softer.

"Nothing don't worry"

"Come on, I'm listening now" he regretted it instantly when her eyes glowed.

"Who were you staring at?" she raised her eyebrows.

He looked around there table hoping no one heard her and at the same time praying someone would talk to her.

"No one, I was just thinking about something"

"Or someone?" Aneesah smiled and cackled like a cartoon witch, he hated when she did that because it meant she was up to something mischievous.

"Ammie" he smiled automatically when he heard Layla's voice, what were the chances of her best friend being with her?

Fahad drowned out his family's conversation, earlier he wanted to leave the place and nothing else, but now, not so much.

"Hamma, hamma Shaheed was looking for you earlier" Layla sat where Aneesah was previously, he had no idea when she left the seat.

If not for the MC and music at intervals, he would have forgotten he was at a wedding. He excused himself when his phone vibrated and walked out, mentally reminding himself to see Shaheed afterwards, they were to meet up with Jawad who missed the wedding because he didn't feel like socialising, something was definitely wrong because even after telling him Layla would be there, he still refused.

Khadijah smiled at something Waleedah had said, Layla said she was going to see her aunt.

She looked around the large hall, it sure looked presidential with all the decorations she knew cost a fortune. The bride was seated with her now husband smiling, the happiness showed in her face, the groom said something to her again making her smile wider if that was possible, they looked good together.

If only marriage was as good as the wedding.

The event had just started when she and Layla arrived, said person wasted time dressing up plus the fact that her make up artist was more than thirty minutes late, she had almost yelled the house down saying she wasn't going without make up.

Batul, her half sister had offered to help her with it, she was learning make up but Layla had refused and said she was going to turn her into a walking clown.

She watched as the couple danced with smiles on their faces, she couldn't even find it in her to wish to be in the bride's shoes.

Layla's mother and step mother were no longer seated and neither was Shaheed and Asad, the two had grumbled all the way to the event center because they didn't want to attend, Waleedah and Batul were the only ones seated and they seemed to be engrossed in a conversation about something she didn't care enough to find out, but from how much she knew about them, it was probably about a series they were watching or a book they've read.

She searched for Layla from her seat, she was starting to feel uncomfortable. She scolded herself, she needed to stop depending on her best friend completely.

She could recall the day at the restaurant and how she felt someone's stare, but it felt more persistent and wicked that time.

Her breath was coming out ragged so she stood up and left the hall, it might be considered a rather an unwise decision because whoever was after her could get to her outside but with all the security personnel, someone would be sure to see.

"The weather is calming" Khadijah jumped at the intruders voice, she counted to five quickly to slow her heartbeat then turned to the source of the voice.

She smiled at Fahad, she'd never considered how tall he was until now that he stood beside her, he towered over her completely making her feel protected rather than intimidated or scared which surprised her, she was never comfortable around men.

"Hi" she breathed out.

"Hey" they stood in companionable silence.

Fahad felt fulfilled in her presence even though she was quiet, he felt contented.

"So, I wanted to tell you" Khadijah turned to him with a questioning look, she couldn't explain the look in his eyes and what he said more like sang left looking at him incredulously.

"This night you're looking nice, I like food and you're looking rice, I lick yo-" he caught himself there and smiled goofily at her "I probably shouldn't say that"

She looked at him like he grew four heads, she opened her mouth to say something but closed it back and just nodded bewildered.

"No thank you, you have a great voice and I love your singing?" she couldn't believe what was coming out from the man's mouth.

"That line works on everyone" Fahad pouted surprising her yet again.

"You don't like talking, okay I'll tell you a story, I believe you're a good listener, there's no way you would be friends with Layla if you aren't good at listening" he stood straighter ready to start blabbing.

"Thank you for the absolute horrible singing and completely unoriginal lyrics" Her voice was soft which made him smile, he loved how calm but firm Her voice was, it wasn't girly and neither was it throaty, not high pitched, just perfect.

Fahad had never thought he had a type but standing with the elegantly dressed woman in black made him realise she was his type, his unspoken but known type.

"Ouch" he stated in an overly dramatic girly voice with his hands on his chest "I've been told my singing is one of a kind" he said in his normal voice looking at her in the eyes.

Khadijah turned feeling overwhelmed when he looked her in the eyes.

"By a two months old?"

"A two months old can't talk" he pointed out with a smug look.

"Exactly my point"

"Touchè, so on a more serious note, you look beautiful tonight" she was speechless, sure a lot of people told her that but the tone he used, no something about his voice and accent made it different with the added fact with how low his voice was when he said it "I mean you always look beautiful and just that-"

"Thank you" she cut him off then walked away, the only proof of her being there was the warmth she left behind, he ran his hands through his hair, it was due for a cut but he couldn't care less, Aneesah has said she liked when his hair grew out because it slicks back on its own.

"Hey man" Shaheed stood where Khadijah  was with his arms around him.

"Ready to go?"

"Not yet, Layla wants to come with but she is yet to round up"

"Does she know where we're going to?" that was unlike her, she was still avoiding Jawad, he needed to sit Her down for a talk.

"No, I don't even know for her, she said to tell her when I was leaving" he shrugged before asking what he had wanted to "What are you doing out here?"

"Nothing, just wanted air" he had no idea why he said that, sure he liked the fresh air but the only reason he had gone out was because he saw Khadijah leaving with a distressed look.

He thought back to the conversation he had with her, if it would be called a conversation, he learned a few things about her, she had a good humor, slightly dark but good nevertheless.

One thing he wanted to wanted to know was why she had jumped when he first announced his presence, in his own strange way but still. Another thing he had noticed about her was how she recoiled in crowded areas, her uncharacteristic silence and how sometimes she would look around her almost like she was searching for lurking danger.

It baffled him how he wanted to know every little thing about her, things she hated, her best childhood memory and stunts she pulled when she was a child, her first crush and or first love, it was weird how he canceled Her divorce from everything he wanted to know about her, he wanted to know and didn't want to know at the same time, Fahad groaned, she was already driving him crazy but he couldn't say he didn't like it.

"I want to ask what's wrong but you've been spending time with Layla so her crazy must've rubbed off on you" Shaheed commented, Fahad had already forgotten he was there, he was about to reply with something extremely sarcastic but Shaheed's phone rang.

"Come out now or we're leaving" he stated immediately he picked, not bothering to wait for his sister to reply he hung up.

He hated events like that, not only because Hajiya Fatima had made it her personal mission to take him along with her to every wedding in hope that he would find a girl he would want to marry. He didn't understand why people would spend millions on a one day thing and feed hundreds of people for nothing, though most of the guests invited were very important people in the country and they attended most of it to make business deals, while the young couple and their friends entertain themselves and talked about dresses and the likes of it, big business alliances were made there, and he wanted nothing to do with either things.

Layla walked out of the hall with Khadijah in tow, she knew Khadijah wouldn't want to stay long and in all honesty neither did she, and the only person she knew who would willingly leave without having to answer numerous questions was Shaheed, so she jumped at the chance and asked to go with him.

"Thank you so much, you're my favourite hamma" Layla side hugged a frowning Shaheed.

"Shut up" he walked to the driver's side of his matte Audi RS7.

Layla sighed and asked Khadijah to go with Fahad if she didn't mind, she wordlessly agreed, what was the worst that could happen?

"Me and you" he sang.

Fahad opened the passenger side for her and bowed slightly saying M'lady, she only shook her head at his antics, at least he was normal, if horribly singing and acting like a black and white movie is normal to you.

Layla could almost swear there was a skip in Fahad's step when he made for the driver's side, he wasn't a ladies man but with the way he was all over Khadijah, she didn't know whether to be worried or happy, either way, she hoped it didn't blow up in all their faces.

Fahad studied a silent Khadijah, with the information his P.I gave him and little bits he picked on his own, he knew the perfect way to steer a conversation with her, besides he hated the awkward silence.

He asked her about Layla, there was always this bright look in her eyes when she talked about her best friend, he knew about her sisters but hearing it from her was different and if he dare say, more fulfilling.

He didn't ask her what her favourite color was, he'd wanted to have a deep conversation with her and even though she mostly gave short replies, it was still worth it because he'd learnt a lot about her.

Layla moved to driver's side with lightning speed as soon as Shaheed parked the car. She'd scared him at first before be realised what she was doing, she was very childish but he didn't have time to interfere in her relationship, or the lack of it.

Khadijah joined her in Shaheed's car and before he could finish threatening Layla with everything she loved, she had already zoomed down the street.

"Someone needs to talk to her" Fahad stated running a hand through hair and reminded himself to get the haircut he'd been procrastinating about.

"Not it, you go-" Jawad's chirpy voice cut him off.

"Heyyo boys" he squealed in an overly exaggerated male designer voice, he made show of flailing his arms around and went to peck their cheeks but Fahad stopped him with a serious expression.

"What did you take?"

"Nothing" he frowned masking his emotions.

"Jawad I'm serious" Fahad walked up to him examining his face like a mother would Her injured child.

Shaheed was already halfway in the house to check what Jawad was doing, he was playful normally yes, but he sounded different and that worried him.

"Nothing, I want to be alone" Jawad's tone was a complete contrast to the playful one he'd used at first which made Fahad's frown to deepen.

Jawad was like a brother to him, no he was a brother to him and like he knew himself in and out, he knew Jawad too, he liked to hide his pain from people and act strong but he's hurt and the only way he could get over that hurt was by accepting and acknowledging it.

"We talked about this man, you can't keep doing this to yourself" he held him close and walked to the front door, he was glad they visited, heaven knew what Jawad was planning, he was pretty level minded but when he's off, he does it a hundred percent too.

"Not this again, What the hell is wrong with you Jawad?" Shaheed's angry voice sounded from first floor, he stalked to where Jawad sat with a bored expression, he was only staring at the wall as if in a trance.

Shaheed tossed the bottle of white tablets making it bounce the centre table, he didn't bother picking it up when it fell on the carpeted floor.

Fahad picked it up and made way to the kitchen and straight to the garbage disposal, a distraught Jawad tried to stop him but Shaheed held him back.

"That's fucking expensive, What is wrong with you?" Jawad yelled trying to hit him.

"Then stop buying it" Fahad said calmly, he couldn't talk to him in his present state.

"Why do you keep doing this? We talked about it" Shaheed sounded defeated.

"Because it hurts" he looked down with tears brimming his eyes, no one understood him. He kept quiet for a moment, they almost missed what he said next because of how low it was.

"Today is her birthday"